Christmas tree stand

ABSTRACT

A Christmas tree stand is disclosed and comprises a main frame including a main tube having upper and lower shoulders and a pair of first supporting legs. An auxiliary frame is configured with first and lower collars which can be enveloped onto the upper and lower shoulders, the auxiliary frame further including a pair of second supporting legs. A bolt is provided to lock the auxiliary tube with respect to the main tube.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tree stand, and more particularly toan improved Christmas tree stand in which supporting legs can be readilyand conveniently fixed with respect to a main tube.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ARTS

The most amiable season for a year is Christmas in which the lampsstring has been widely used in decoration, especially in westerncountries. Even more and more oriental countries start to celebrate thisworldwide holiday. Nevertheless, more and more eastern people enjoy thisglobal festival. No doubt, the pleasant and amiable atmosphere providedby the lamps string is very touching and moving, especially in the HolyNight. Of course, in some occasion, such as family union, the lampsstring is indispensable also.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,004 issued to Frost et al. disclose a collapsibleChristmas tree stand supporting a Christmas tree or the like from alongitudinal tube supported by two pair of opposing legs. The secondpair of legs being rotatable about the tube in relation to a first pairof legs between a storage position and a plurality of support positions.The position of the two pair of legs with respect to one another ismaintained with a locking wing nut, such as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 1A.It can be understood from the disclosure that unless the wing nuts arecompletely loosened, the legs can not be rotated with respect to thetube. After the legs are positioned, the wing nuts are locked up again.However, it can be seen from the disclosure that the elements 8 and 10are slideably mounted onto the element 2, there is a high potential thatthe elements 8 and 10 will slide downward.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,977 issued to the present inventor, discloses aChristmas tree pedestal, includes a main body and a secondary bodywherein the main body forms an inner sleeve portion and a first outersleeve portion, and the secondary body forms a second outer sleeveportion. The inner sleeve portion of the body is received within thesecond outer sleeve portion of the secondary body whereby the main bodyand the secondary body are capable of being freely rotated over 90degrees with regard to each other for folding a plurality of first andsecond supporting legs of the main body and the secondary body togetherin a limited space for transportation, storage, delivery and packingthereof. The invention does solve the shortcoming of the prior arts,while it suffers a comparable complicated manufacturing process therebythere is still a room for improvement.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,512 issued to Ho provides a collapsible supportframe comprised of an inner tube, an outer tube, and a plurality ofsupport legs. The support legs are fastened to the inner tube and theouter tube. The inner tube is rotatably fitted into the outer tube. Thefolding and the unfolding of the support legs are attained by turningthe inner tube an angle. The inner tube has a hollow interior forholding a Christmas tree, a flag pole, and the like. See FIGS. 2 and 2A.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a Christmas tree stand inwhich supporting legs can be readily adjusted and positioned.

In order to achieve the object set forth, a Christmas tree stand inaccordance with the present invention comprises a main frame including amain tube having upper and lower shoulders and a pair of firstsupporting legs. An auxiliary frame is configured with first and lowercollars which can be enveloped onto the upper and lower shoulders, theauxiliary frame further including a pair of second supporting legs. Abolt is provided to lock the auxiliary tube with respect to the maintube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a prior art Christmas tree stand disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,290,004;

FIG. 1A is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a prior art Christmas tree stand disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,293,512;

FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a Christmas tree stand in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing first and second supportinglegs are arranged in collapsed arrangement;

FIG. 5A is a top view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing first and second supportinglegs are spaced between 90 degrees;

FIG. 6A is a top view of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 7 is an illustration showing a Christmas tree is mounted onto thestand in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 3, a Christmas tree stand made in accordance with thepresent invention includes a main frame 1 and an auxiliary frame 2. Themain frame 1 includes a main tube 11 provided with a plurality of firstsupporting legs 12. The main tube 11 further includes a washer 13attached to a lower end of the main tube 11. The main tube 11 is furtherprovided with a first threaded hole 14. The main tube 11 is providedwith upper and lower shoulders 11 a and 11 b.

The auxiliary frame 2 is configured by first and second collars 21 and22 with a pair of second supporting legs 23 attached thereto. The firstcollar 21 is further provided with a second threaded hole 24. The uppercollar 21 has a rounded flange 21 a.

The first and second collars 21, 22 are designed such that the innerdiameter thereof is equal to the outer diameter of the shoulders 11 a,11 b such that the first and second collars 21 and 22 are readilyenveloped onto the shoulders 11 a, 11 b. After the first and secondcollars 21 and 22 are properly positioned onto the shoulders 11 a, 11 b,a blot 25 can be used and inserted from the threaded hole 24 of thefirst collar 21 into the threaded hole 14 of the main tube 11. By thisarrangement, the auxiliary tube 2 can be fixedly positioned onto themain tube 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, in assembly, the auxiliary tube 2 can be easilyassembled to the main tube 1 by enveloping the first collar 21 onto theupper shoulder 11 a of the tube 1, then enveloping the second collar 22onto the lower shoulder 11 b of the main tube 11. After the secondsupporting legs 23 are positioned, the bolt 25 is used to complete theassembly.

FIGS. 5 and 5A are cross sectional views showing the supporting legs 12,23 are located in collapsed position, i.e. the first and secondsupporting legs 12, 23 are arranged side-by-side for storing as theoverall dimension is reduced. As disclosed, the auxiliary tube 2 canrotate through 180 degrees with respect to the main tube 1.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 6A, the main tube 1 and the auxiliary tube 2are positioned with respect to each other such that the first and secondsupporting legs 12, 23 are spaced 90 degrees. The bolt 25 is used tokeep such arrangement and which extends through from the threaded hole24 of the first collar 21 into the threaded hole 14 of the main tube 11such that the supporting legs 12 and 23 spaced for 90 degrees.

Once the main tube 1 and the auxiliary tube 2 are assembled, the maintrunk 3 of the Christmas tree can be mounted into the main tube 1, suchas shown in FIG. 7, with end of the trunk 3 rests onto the washer 13.The bolt 25 can be further locked up such that the trunk 3 is fixedlypositioned within the main tube 11.

One of the features of the present invention is the main tube 1 isprovided with upper and lower shoulders 11 a, 11 b having the outerdiameter which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the firstand second collars 21, 22. As such, the engagement between the main tube1 and the auxiliary tube 2 are rigid and reliable. In addition, when thefirst collar 21 is assembled to the upper shoulder 11 a, the flange 21 acovers the upper edge of the shoulder 11 a, see FIG. 5. This furtherensures the overall rigidity as well as reliability. Specially, when thefirst collars 21 is mounted onto the upper shoulder 11 a, it is fullysupported. The prior art problems are completely solved.

1. A Christmas tree stand, comprising a main frame including a main tubehaving upper and lower shoulders and a pair of first supporting legs,the upper shoulder having an upper edge; and an auxiliary frameconfigured with upper and lower collars which can be enveloped onto theupper and lower shoulders, the auxiliary frame further including a pairof second supporting legs extending from the upper and lower collarsrespectively; wherein the upper collar includes a flange extendinginwardly and rotatably resting onto the upper edge of the uppershoulder.
 2. The Christmas tree stand as recited in claim 1, furtherincluding a bolt to lock the main tube and the upper collar into desiredposition.
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)